Louis Vuitton, Chanel and other sellers of luxury goods are improving their online offerings in response to customer demand. Online sales make up 6% of the total for luxury goods, triple the share in 2009, according to McKinsey & Co.

UPS Capital, the financial-services arm of United Parcel Service said it would acquire Parcel Pro, a logistics firm that provides services and insurance coverage for the transport of jewelry, wristwatches and other luxury goods, mainly for business customers.

Luxury goods seller LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton said it has no plans to harmonize its prices, damping speculation that it would mirror French rival Chanel by raising prices in Europe while slashing them in China.

Shares in French luxury-goods group LVMH surged 6% higher on the Paris bourse Wednesday. Investors and analysts took cheer from Chief Executive Bernard Arnault's confidence about the coming year after the company turned in a relatively strong fourth-quarter sales growth.

Louis Vuitton's unexpectedly strong sales in the first quarter sparked optimism in the luxury-goods industry of a return to stronger growth. But its parent is playing down hopes that it signals a long-term uptick.